8/6. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1431 — Praying Witr After Sleep or Forgetfulness
Supplicating After Witr
Missed Witr Prayer: Pray It When You Remember
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1431
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1431
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَوْفٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي غَسَّانَ، مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُطَرِّفٍ الْمَدَنِيِّ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَنْ نَامَ عَنْ وِتْرِهِ أَوْ نَسِيَهُ فَلْيُصَلِّهِ إِذَا ذَكَرَهُ " .
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: If anyone oversleeps and misses the witr, or forgets it, he should pray when he remembers.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1431In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 16English translation : Book 8, Hadith 1426
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1431
This hadith about missed witr prayer gives comfort and direction. Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said if anyone oversleeps and misses witr, or forgets it, he should pray when he remembers. The wording deals with two common human cases: sleep and forgetfulness. It does not shame the person. It tells the person what to do next. For someone searching what if I miss witr, this narration gives a clear action: pray it when it comes back to mind. The lesson is that worship should be treated with care, and a missed act should not simply be ignored when remembered.
What we learn from this hadith
- Sleep and forgetfulness are both mentioned as reasons for missing witr.
- The person is told to pray witr when he remembers.
- The hadith points to care for witr even after a missed time.
